PAULTON ROVERS 1 HALESOWEN TOWN 1

Rovers began the new campaign with a hard earned point from an encouraging display against a strong Halesowen Town side looking for an immediate return to the Premier Division.

It was a game of surprisingly few clear cut chances despite both sides producing some attractive football on an excellent pitch and with the benefit of an early goal. With less than 5 minutes played Rovers’ central defender, Marcus Mapstone brought down Justin Nesbitt 25 yards out and Lee Chilton’s free kick bounced awkwardly just in front of home keeper, Kyle Phillips and into the net to give the visitors a near perfect start.

Town had the better of the first period as Nisbett produced an acrobatic shot that was easily saved by Phillips and Chilton caused some anxious moments down the left but failed to produce a final telling ball. For the home side Craig Loxton and substitute, Raiff Gwinnett, produced dangerous crosses that no one managed to get on the end of and the home side’s only effort of note in the first period came from a long range Loxton shot that Town keeper, Paul Evans did well to touch out for a corner.

Rovers began the second period much better with skipper, Dan Cleverley, flicking a header just wide from a Ben Osman cross. However the visitors came perilously close to doubling their advantage on 69 minutes as a long ball forward saw Phillips leave his area and slice his clearance only as far as Nathan Jackson whose volley bounced up onto the bar and over to safety. Rovers pressed for an equaliser as Scott Brice just failed to get a header in from a right wing corner and the ball hit a defender and fortuitously landed up in Evan’s grateful arms. Rovers could have drawn level on 81 minutes as Ben Cleverley’s free kick eluded everyone and dropped to substitute, Jamie Taylor, at the back post but his effort was just off target.

However Taylor proved Rovers’ saviour 3 minutes later as Mapstone’s ball forward was superbly controlled by Loxton who turned inside and slipped the ball through to Taylor who calmly side footed the ball into the corner of the net.

Halesowen were reduced to 10 men in injury time as Andrew Westwood saw a yellow card, quickly followed by red for a second bookable offence but despite over 5 minutes of added time the home side had to settle for an opening day point.

Rovers: Phillips, Tovey (Gwinnett 40 mins), Allward, Dunn, Mapstone, Brice, Lewis (Lane 63 mins), Loxton, Osman (Taylor 67 mins), D Cleverley (C), B Cleverley
Subs not used: Jeffries, Billings.

Star Man: Dan Cleverley

Referee: Anton Bevis
Assts: Kevin Bungay / Adrian Hunt

Attendance: 220